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Tag: homemade

With the kids back in school, now may be the perfect time to reconnect with old friends. As we all know, friends are such an important part of our lives. Maintaining those friendships will be a source of joy and comfort throughout our lives. A spur-of-the-moment cup of coffee may not happen often and it may take some effort to get together – but it will be worth it. To show your friendship commitment, treat your friends to a special homemade coffee cake.

As a general rule, coffee cakes are fairly easy to prepare. I love a when a coffee cake has a creamy component. If you’re still hanging on to summer, the Peach Custard Coffee Cake is delicious. The creamy part of this recipe is made with sour cream mixed with eggs and flour. The cake recipe is made with Martha White® Self-Rising Flour which saves you time by eliminating the need to measure out baking powder, baking soda and salt. As for the peaches – you can use fresh or frozen!

If you’re ready to leave summer behind and move into the fall or if you just want to a shortcut to home baking, the Songbird Sweet Potato Skillet recipe is the perfect option. Begin with a Martha White® Sweet Potato Muffin Mix. Change the ingredients a bit by using buttermilk and butter. Pour into a cast iron skillet or baking pan. Swirl in the cream cheese filling and sprinkle with streusel topping. The outcome is fabulous! A piece of this coffee cake, a cup of coffee and a good friend is all you need!

For generations, the pecan groves that sweep across the South have provided cooks with a wonderful ingredient to use in their holiday baking. If you are lucky enough to have a tree (or a generous friend with one), all you need is a nutcracker to reveal the treasure within.

Of course, pecan pie is one of the most beloved holiday dessert recipes. Some bakers enjoy the whole creative process of making a pie from scratch. Others like to take a few shortcuts to get an equally delicious finished product.

For purists, a homemade pecan pie is a testament to the way simple ingredients come together to create a classic. The filling is easy to stir up, but depends on good pecans to give it distinction. I personally think it’s the slightly salty flaky homemade crust that perfectly complements the sweet filling and makes the whole pie delicious.

A unique alternative to a homemade pie, is a bar that reflects the attributes of the pie, but is simple to make and easy to serve or share. You will be amazed at the crust a chocolate chip muffin mix makes for these Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars

Whether you love to bake from scratch or prefer to take shortcuts, the recipients of your efforts will always appreciate the time and care you took to bake something special for them.